Letter: Syrian refugees coming to Connecticut a concern

Published
10:36 am EDT, Friday, April 8, 2016

To the Editor:

For shame, Governor Malloy, that you chastise the citizens of your state, charging your constituents with “a fair amount of ignorance” on the refugee situation. Well, governor, if we the citizens of Connecticut are ignorant, then you are to blame! It is your obligation to fully inform us of the process that is being used to vet refugees from Syria that you plan to settle in our midst.

And if we are skeptical regarding our family’s safety, it just might be that in our ignorance we have visions of San Bernardino tainting our perception (based on the proven malfeasance by multiple government reviewers in the U.S. government in claiming they vetted that married couple who then killed 14 California citizens?) Exactly why should we trust that anything has been corrected in the vetting process of the Syrian refugees that will be coming soon to our Connecticut neighborhoods to live amongst us at your invitation?

We have only to watch the nightly news to see how Europe is faring in the grip of uncontrolled immigration from war-ravaged countries thanks to inept bureaucrats that are overwhelmed by the tragic backlash of war. Is this the future we are obligated to accept because you have decided it should be so?

Governor Malloy, your snobbish backhand to your constituents that you “always stood for a more inclusive society where people recognize their obligations to one another” misses your sworn obligation to protect the citizens of this state.

I don’t call it “xenophobic rhetoric” to expect our government to adhere to its obligation to stop ISIS killers from coming here to expand their murderous assault on the homeland. ISIS has publicly vowed to infiltrate the refugees. Thus, it is not xenophobic to be skeptical of Syrians immigrating in this volatile atmosphere. After all, America is referred to as the “Great Satan” in Syria.

Yes, our American history is one of welcoming legal immigrants who wish to live peacefully among us and to assimilate into our culture and laws. Assure us these refugees will indeed be peaceful and will honor our American culture and laws. Relieve us of our ignorance. Inform us! Exactly what steps are you taking to verify these immigrants are not ISIS?